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What Can be Done With the Issues of Low Muscle Tone and Oral-Motor Problems? Most boys with fragile X syndrome require oral-motor assessment and goals on their Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP) or Individual Educational Plans (IEP). This assessment and the writing of goals might be carried out jointly by a speech-language pathologist and an occupational therapist. Speech pathologists can work with occupational and physical therapists to intervene in the area of low muscle tone and oral-motor weakness. Trunk support, sometimes in the form of specially constructed chairs, may be an issue to help with breath support and vocalization for some children.
Both foods and toys can be used in oral-motor activities in order to provide incentives. Blow toys, whistles, and straws can be used to help build up oral -motor strength and functioning. Speech pathologists may recommend a variety of foods to help with chewing and oral-motor strength. These might include crunchy and chewy foods, such as fruit snacks, celery, bagels, and gum. In addition to helping with speech and language, such oral stimulation may help prevent the child's chewing on clothing, straps, or skin.
Gail Harris-Schmidt, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
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© copyright 1998-2008 NFXF |
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There are many activities that speech pathologists can use to help increase
tolerance to touch around the face, neck, and mouth, and thus to improve chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Speech pathologists may work jointly with occupational therapists to design oral motor activities appropriate for a
child. These may include physical activities that begin away from the mouth, but that gradually allow the child to build up tolerance around the face and mouth.
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